The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-02-24
Jon ESBORO.
A Comet Reporter Visits the
County Seat
And Writes Impressions Gained by Il
Few Days Stay In That Pleas
ant Burg.

Few Days Stay In That Pleas
ant Burg.
The first impression one gains con-
cerning Jonesboro, if he alights at the
railway depot, is that it is a place of
decided business activity. The rail
way platform, at the time OF arrival of
trains, is usually crowded with people,
and their is hurrying to and fro and
general air Of hustle and business that
is unmistakable.
The appearance Of Main St. deepens
this impression, The business blocks
are nearly all of brick, one, two or
three stories in height. The Planters
Hotel, commodious frame structure,
amply endowed with roomy balconies
and presenting very cosy, inviting
appearance, may virtually be consid-
cred the western boundary.ofthe trade
limits of this street from it eastward
extends an unbroken chain OF substan-
tial structures for distance equal to
about one city block. The opposite
side of this thoroughfare, within essen
TALLY the same limits, is occupied by
the Dosser block, the Court House,
and the brick structure tenanted by
]. j. Hunt. Upon.the two principal
streets crossing Main st. at right an
giles are also located business enter
prises of more or less importance.
The town is very compactly built
it has for greater length than bredth
and the conformation Of the ground
is such that almost innumerable
charming building sites are afforded,
Some of the more pronounced loca-
tons are adorned by handsome resi-
dences, and, in fact, the residence por-
ton of Jonesboro impresses one quite
as favorably as does its business quar-
ter. There is an appearance of solidi'
ty-of stability, and visitor realizes
that there is nothing ephemeral about
the place.
If one does as THE COMET reporter
did-make the acquaintance of many
of the leading citizens, he will ascer
tain that there are comparatively few
inportations. Most OF the business
and professional men are natives o
Jonesboro or OF Washington County
this has been their life home ore re
suit is that society is well formed an(
there appears to be a community Of in
terest-there is competition in trade, o
course, but the idea we wish to convey
is that friendly relations obtain amoni
the business men. Their trade for tn
most part is firmly established ant
relatively few changes take place il
: business circles from year to year.
Jonesboro is one of the few towns il
the State that isnot boasting "boom.
During the several days THE COME
= reporter remained he didn't even hea
OF real estate ,speculator, let alon
meet one. Despite the appearance G
business activity there is a lethargi
: condition so far as relates to promot
> ing such measures as would redoun,
2 to the towns best good.
Occasionally we met a man VIII
: took an interest in matters relating t
: manufactures, and who deplored th
s non-existence Of any productive Ell
terprises in the town, but decent rt
: gard for the truth compels us to sa.
: that the majority Of the citizens seer
j satisfied to follow in the footsteps G
t their forefathers.
y But Notwithstanding the fact tina
: there are but two or three small mar
" ufactories in the town. Jonesbor
g controls a large mercantile trade an
merchants are usually prosperou
Is That they are very conservative
is equally true. and they don't tax
3 kindly to new ideas. The bushes
IS houses, as a rule, are well stocked
s some of them exceptionally so, an
is the merchants generally speak hop
fully of trade prospects. The systeI
q of credits has pretty firm hold, bl
g the leading houses are gradual
,e emancipating themselves.
q The community sustains an exec
is lent weekly newspaper--the Herald
70 Tribune, and we found Editor Dusi
r berre very courteous gentleme
v He is doing all he can in the intere
a. Of the town, and his advertising pa
X ronage ought to be many times gres
in er than it is.
The Jonesboro Graded School, u
10 der the direction of Prof. Mason, {
I'd sisted by we'll selected corps Of teac
ID ers, is doing most excellent wol
or while the colored school, under T.
10 charge of Mrs. Nelson, is also makil
n commendable progress.
IT The two excellent hotels, PLANTER
IS and Washington" offer every comic
re to traveller and visitor, while fl
o. white and three colored churches
n. ford opportunity for worship accol
ing to nearly as many different cree
Tho ond prashvterian church is